Buying Guides

The Best Coffee For A Ninja Coffee Maker


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Making coffee is a lot like making soup, stew, or anything for that matter: you need the right ingredients and the proper recipe (or, in this case, brewing method) to make it taste good. And while your Ninja Coffee Maker can take care of all the brewing for you, plucking up the cheapest bag of beans you see on the shelf at your local supermarket simply won’t make a delicious cup!

At a Glance: Our Top 5 Picks for Best Coffees For Ninja Coffee Maker

When it comes to coffee beans, it’s all about flavor and freshness, and sourcing a delicious, high-quality coffee bean for your Ninja Machines can go a long way to improving the taste. So, we’ve explored some of the top-rated beans available, as well as exactly what you should look for when buying your next batch of java. Here are our favorite coffee beans for your Ninja Coffee Maker.

Recommended: How To Buy The Best Coffee Beans

Quick Summary: Best Coffees For Ninja Coffee Maker

rc-table__imageLIFEBOOST ORGANIC COFFEE BEANS
  • Single-Origin
  • Non-GMO
  • With Lots Of Health Benefits
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rc-table__imageANODYNE GUATEMALA LA HERMOSA
  • Rich, Creamy Body
  • Splash Of Citrusy Sweetness
  • Chocolaty & Sweet
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rc-table__imagePORTLAND ORGANIC FRENCH, DARK ROAST
  • Rich, Robust, And Very Sweet
  • Organic Whole Bean
  • Roasty & Smoky
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rc-table__imageALMA ETHIOPIA KOCHERE, LIGHT ROAST
  • Soft And Pleasantly Fruity
  • Features Notes Of Juicy Ripe Peach And Honeyed Black Tea
  • Subtle & Delicate
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rc-table__imageSPARROWS COFFEE H.O.M.E.S. BLEND
  • Rich, Full-Bodied, And Extra-Dark
  • Medium-Dark Roast
  • Roasty & Smoky
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rc-table__imageATOMIC BLACK VELVET
  • Silky Smooth And Dark
  • Features A Hint Of Spice And A Nutty Sweetness
  • Comforting & Rich
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rc-table__imageKUMA HONDURAS SANTA BARBARA
  • Pleasant Acidity That Pops
  • Caramel-Almond Sweetness
  • Sweet & Tart
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Lifeboost Organic Coffee Beans

Lifeboost Coffee
Lifeboost Organic Coffee Beans
Our rating:

Enjoy delicious, healthy, single-origin, chemical-free, non-GMO coffee with lots of benefits.

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These are incredibly high-quality coffee beans that are perfect for use in a Ninja Coffee Maker. Smooth and rich, with a chocolatey flavor and notes of caramel, this blend is excellent for those who enjoy a bold coffee. Its slightly fruity flavor complements the rich taste of this dark roast, ensuring that you get the most intense coffee experience possible.

Lifeboost Beans are also both organic and fairtrade certified, meaning that you can enjoy your coffee knowing that you are supporting sustainable farming practices. The 100% Arabica beans are grown in the mountains of Nicaragua. They’re handpicked, washed, naturally dried, and roasted to absolute perfection, meaning you get the best possible cup of coffee each and every time.

Anodyne Guatemala La Hermosa

Anodyne Guatemala La Hermosa
Anodyne Guatemala La Hermosa
Our rating:

A rich, creamy body and splash of citrusy sweetness remind us of a chocolate orange candy.

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These beans have been roasted to highlight Guatemala’s sweet and citrusy flavors. La Hermosa is a great coffee for your Ninja Coffee Maker because it’s so versatile. You can enjoy a delicious cup of coffee without any additional sweetness or milk – in fact, these beans are ideal for use with the classic or rich brew settings on your Ninja.

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Anodyne sources their beans from family farms throughout Central America, so you know that you’re getting a quality, ethically farmed cup of coffee. And with their focus on community, you can feel double refreshed knowing you’re supporting a small business that’s doing good in the world.

The medium roast beans are also 100% Arabica, and they’re carefully roasted in small batches to ensure the freshest coffee possible. You can buy them either whole or ready-ground.

Portland Organic French, Dark Roast

Portland Organic French, Dark Roast
Portland Organic French, Dark Roast
Our rating:

Rich, robust, and very sweet, this is the kind of cup that takes a splash of milk as a compliment but isn’t afraid to stand on its own.

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This robust bean is a rich and sweet dark roast overflowing with flavor. This type of coffee is ideal for those who enjoy their drinks full-bodied, and this particular bean has just a splash of milk chocolate in its flavor profile. Portland Organic beans are high-quality, ethically sourced 100% Arabica coffee beans.

Coffee lovers have been enjoying this traditional roast for nearly twenty years. While the company – a local coffee roaster in Portland, Oregon – has changed a lot in that time, this dark roast has remained steady, consistent, and very high-quality. The distinct smokiness reminiscent of French roast coffee makes this a very well-rounded cup that stands strong on its own.

Alma Ethiopia Kochere, Light Roast

Alma Ethiopia Kochere, Light Roast
Alma Ethiopia Kochere, Light Roast
Our rating:

Soft and pleasantly fruity, this super clean, tea-like cup features notes of juicy ripe peach and honeyed black tea.

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This Ethiopia Kochere light roast is an excellent choice for a less intense but equally delicious coffee. Mild, smooth, and slightly sweet with citrus and spice notes, it’s most certainly a crowd-pleaser. It’s also organic, and workers are paid a fair wage, making it another great option for coffee lovers who care about where their beans originate.

This Ethiopia Kochere light roast is a great choice if you’re looking for something that isn’t as intense but is still delicious and full of flavor. Featuring spicy notes and hints of ripe fruit, it’s perfect for making a range of caffeinated beverages, from espressos to flavourful lattes.

Sparrows Coffee H.O.M.E.S. Blend

Sparrows Coffee H.O.M.E.S. Blend
Sparrows Coffee H.O.M.E.S. Blend
Our rating:

Rich, full-bodied, and extra-dark, this one reminds us of a campfire – maybe on the beach of one of the Great Lakes it’s named for.

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If you’re looking for a classic coffee flavor with an extra kick, you have got to try Sparrows Coffee H.O.M.E.S. Blend. It has a rich, full-bodied flavor with milk chocolate undertones.

This blend is perfect for coffee lovers who want a nostalgic taste with an extra bit of complexity. It’s a medium-dark roast, so it’s more intense than some of the others on this list and perfect for those who need a bit of an extra kick in their morning cup. 

The smoky taste is simply mouthwatering, and if you’re looking for something more traditional, Sparrows Coffee H.O.M.E.S blend is perfect for you! Never has an acronym tasted so good!

Atomic Black Velvet

Atomic Black Velvet
Atomic Black Velvet
Our rating:

Silky smooth and dark as night, this blend features a hint of spice and a nutty sweetness that’ll pair beautifully with a splash of your favorite milk, but is just as delicious on its own.

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This Black Velvet blend by Atomic is one of the best coffee beans for Ninja machines, with a taste as smooth as its name. Featuring a rich and dark roast, it’s perfect for those who love a strong cup of coffee. It also has a sweet and nutty flavor that will please your taste buds.

The roasters specifically targeted sugar-browning flavors generated during the roasting process for this brew. The roasters aimed to create a coffee as smooth as velvet (hence the name) and deliciously potent. The result can be added to milkier brews or drunk on its own as a classic black coffee. This Atomic blend is ideal if you’re searching for a dark roast with a sweet undertone.

Kuma Honduras Santa Barbara

Kuma Honduras Santa Barbara
Kuma Honduras Santa Barbara
Our rating:

A pleasant acidity really pops at first sip, complimented by a decadent caramel-almond sweetness that keeps things balanced.

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If you’re looking for a delicious cup of coffee that will make your Ninja machine purr with satisfaction, look no further than Kuma Coffee’s Honduras Santa Barbara blend. The balanced flavors of this bean really shine through, and they won’t leave you with any undesirable aftertaste or sourness like some coffees might do. This coffee is sweet, rich, and balanced, with hints of citrus and nutty vanilla notes.

The medium-light roast enhances the sweetness of this coffee without overpowering the natural flavors. Inspired by the best coffees in Honduras, Kuma beans are some of the most highly rated and sought-after coffee beans on the market, so make sure to snag a bag to see what all the fuss is about.

What to look for when buying coffee for a Ninja Coffee Machine?

When it comes to choosing the best coffee to use in your Ninja machine, there are a few things you need to take into account. The first is the roast of the coffee – do you prefer light, medium, or dark roasts? Secondly, what flavors do you like in your coffee? Do you want something with a strong flavor that will wake you up in the morning or something a little more mild and balanced? Finally, always make sure to buy whole beans rather than pre-ground coffee – this will ensure that you get the freshest cup of coffee possible.

Let’s dive into these considerations in a little more detail.

Level of roast

The roast level is the difference between a coffee’s raw form and its ultimate flavor, with each roast having a different level of flavor intensity. If you’re searching for milder coffee, a light roast is the way to go. Light roasts are lighter in color and have undertones of fruitiness and sugar-browning flavors. However, if you prefer something with a little more punch or you prefer stronger, more intense flavors, medium or dark roast coffee beans will better suit your tastes.

Country of origin

Coffee beans originate from all over the world. Over 50 different countries produce coffee beans. However, the most popular beans come from South America, Africa, and Asia. Each of these regions, and their respective countries, has its unique style of coffee. Some countries are known for more bitter flavors, while others produce sweeter beans.

For example, Colombian beans are very mild and often have caramel undertones. These are perfect for those who want a more subtle flavor. On the other hand, Ethiopian beans often have an earthy, robust taste that many love in their coffee. Indonesian beans, such as Sumatran, often have a smoky flavor, perfect for dark roasts. As you can see, it’s crucial to know where your coffee beans come from to find the best flavor profile for you.

The flavor profile

So what exactly is the flavor profile? Well, while reading through these top coffees for your Ninja Coffee Maker, you may have noticed that many of the coffee beans have notes of caramel or fruit in the taste. This is the flavor profile, and it’s determined by the coffee’s genetics, processing, and roasting. The bean’s roast will also add to this flavor profile, with a light roast often having more subtle flavors than a dark one.

When looking for a coffee with a specific flavor profile in mind, make sure you read the label carefully so you know what to expect. If you like sweeter coffee, look for beans with notes of chocolate or caramel. Try Colombian or Brazilian coffees if you want something with a nutty flavor. Alternatively, if you’re after a bolder, earthy taste to wake you up in the morning, then go for Indian or Asian varieties such as Sumatran and Vietnamese.

Does elevation matter?

When it comes to brewing the perfect cup of coffee, you may also want to think about the elevation at which the bean was grown. The higher the elevation, the better the beans will be. This is because high-elevation coffees are often grown in more fertile soils under stricter climatic conditions. This leads to what is known as a harder bean with more desired and sought-after flavors due to having a higher concentration of sugars.

While it is true that high-elevation coffees often have a more intense flavor, the reality is that most coffee beans are blended from different regions to create a consistent flavor profile. So, while a bean grown at a higher elevation is certainly more sought after, you don’t have to worry too much about this, as long as you’re buying from a reputable source.

Pre-ground or whole bean?

To get the freshest cup of coffee possible, always try to buy whole bean coffee rather than pre-ground. When coffee is ground, it begins to lose its freshness as soon as it’s exposed to air. This means that much of the flavor will already be gone by the time you brew it. Roasted whole beans also last longer than ground coffee in storage – up to nine months when stored in an airtight container compared to three or five months you’d get with grounds.

What grind size do you need for a Ninja Coffee Maker? 

For the perfect cup of coffee in your Ninja Coffee Maker, we suggest using a medium-grind coffee. A finer grind will often result in over-extraction and a bitter cup of coffee, whereas a coarser grind will not allow the machine to extract the flavor fully.

Do Ninja Coffee Machines use K-cups?

Yes, Ninja does use K-Cups but only in their Dualbrew models. These are the newest of the Ninja models and their most versatile machine. They perfectly combine a standard drip coffee maker with K-Cup compatibility, and they also have a milk frother for creating delicious coffee-house-style beverages in your home kitchen.

Should I buy whole bean coffee for my Ninja?

Yes, we always suggest buying whole bean coffee for your Ninja Coffee Maker. Grinding your own coffee will give you a higher-quality, fresher tasting cup. The beans will also have retained most of their flavor, which will end up in your cup. However, you will need to buy a coffee grinder to do this as the Ninja won’t grind your coffee beans for you.

Wrapping up

Ninja Coffee Machines are designed to be versatile coffee makers capable of brewing a range of different beverages, from standard drip coffee to lattes and iced coffees. However, when it comes to coffee beans, quality is so important. No matter the quality of your machine, a bad bean will create a bad drink. So, whether you’re looking for a specific flavor profile or you just prefer a darker roast to a light roast, this list should help you find the perfect high-quality beans for your Ninja machine.

Don’t forget, using a medium grind size is best for brewing in your Ninja Coffee Maker. And, buying whole beans and grinding them yourself will always give you more bang for your buck and more bean for your brew.

Happy Caffeinating!

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